Game apparatus



W. T. GREENAN GAME APPARATUS Nov. 8, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1931 6 v llLlW Z r/ m 2 n 2 x .H II

INVENTOF? www A TTORN EYS Nov. 8, 1932. w. T. GREENAN 1,886,479

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1951 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR MMM AT TO R NEIS Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE WILLIAM r. .GREENAN, on NEW YOBK, N. 5L, assrenon or ONE-HALF T AUGUST G. nnmmrmr, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS Application filed July 14, 1931. Serial No. 550,663.

This invention relates to apparatus for playing a novel game.

The apparatus comprises a horizontal gridlike field surrounded on four sides with enclosures, the ends being solid enclosures and the sides preferably slatted or rib-like. The

end enclosures have goal baskets supported thereon and the side enclosures are of open grid-like form so as to expose to view the ball adapted to be struck from below the gridlike field in an efiort to drive the same into the basket. The entire apparatus is supported on legs and the partsare hingedly connected so thatit can be knockeddown or collapsed for easeof shipment and also for storage in a limitedspace when notin use. The various features of the apparatus will be fully apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings d Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the game apparatus and somewhatdiagrammatically showing the ball in play;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Fig.3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinalsec- :tion on line4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view of the same apparatus inits knocked down or collapsed condition;

Fig. 6 isan elevation of the club.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 represents the playing field as a whole. This field, as shown in Fig. 2, is of rectangular shape in plan. The field portion includes longitudinally extending parallel side bars 12-12 and endbars 14--14. Bridging the side bars 1212 and parallel with the end bars 14-44;, there are seventeen-cross slats 16 which divide the field intoeighteen transversely extending equal divisions 18. The field thus formed has an appearance somewhat like that of a football field, sometimes called a gridiron. This field is supportedin a substantially horizontal plane by end members 20-20 having upright legs 22 of such length that the field is about thirty inches from the floor. The end members include "5 solid panel portions 24- 24 to which goal has eludes longitudinally extending top and b'ot- I tom bars 34 and 36, respectively, and upright bars 38 and 10. A plurality of upright slats 12 are supported between the bars 34 and 36, thus forming a substantially transparent or openwork side enclosure for the game apparatus.

In order that the apparatus may be readily collapsed, or knocked down for ease in shipment, or to facilitate storage, theparts are preferably hingedly secured to one another.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the field section 10 is secured to the end members 20 by hinges such as indicated at 4 1. The side members 32-32 are also hingedly connected to the longitudinal bars 12-12 by hinges 4c64c6. For detachably holding the side members 3232 in assembled relationship with the end members 20-20, I provide thumb screws 48 18 which extend through suitable openings in the end members 2020 and engage threadedfittings secured to bars 3434: of the side members.

Bridging the space between the legs 32 of each end member, there is a cross bar 50 which is drilled at the top to provide socket 52 for the reception of the vertically disposed portion 54 of a detachable connection member 56, the shank 58 of which is seated in a longitudinally extending member 60. This arrangement permits the member 60 to be readily detached merely by lifting it relatively to the crossbar 50 so as to permit collapsing of the end members 20 against the field portion 10.

The grid-like slat members 3232 can also be collapsed against the field portion 10 by removing the thumb screws 48 and swinging said side members inwardly about the hinges 46-46. These various hinge connections permit the entire apparatus to be folded into a very compact space, as indicated in Fig. 5. This is advantageous because it facilitates packing and shipping of the article and alsopermits the same to be stowed away in a small space, when not in use.

The apparatus can be used for playing games according to various directions, all of the games, however, including the feature of striking the ball X upwardly from below by means of a club or bat O having an angularly disposed portion 0. The club is grasped by the players hand, as indicated in Fig. 1, and i the stroke is executed upwardly through the spaces 18 between the slats 16 of the playing field, the object in mostof the games played on the apparatus being to cause the ball to fall in either one of the goal baskets 26 or 28. Usually the players stand adjacent the opposite side members 323-2 and take turns striking at the ball. The score is kept and the one making the basket in the fewest number of strokes is the winner. fVarious penalties may be made for fouls such as striking the ball so hard that it is knocked outsideof the apparatus and falls to the floor. Other penalties are imposed when the player attempts to place the ballin a more advantageous position. While not wishing to be limited to any specific rules of play, the following serve as examples for the type of game which may be played on the apparatus.

For one variety of game to be played, the

field is marked with red and bluev colored areas, as indicated by the shaded portions marked R and B, respectively. On each side of the apparatus, near one end thereof, there is a red area or zone five spaces from the end and there is a blue area six spaces from the end. Near the center of the apparatus, there is a red area opposite the ninth space similarly a blue area oppositethe ninth space from the opposite end. The red and blue space mark the zones from whichdifierent players are entitled to a free shot in one of the games to be played. In this game, which is for two players, the color nearest the basket to the right of each player denotes the zone or space from which he is entitled to a free shot whenever theball drops in such zone.

But, if a given player touches the ball once with his bat, the opponent has the right to hit the ball. In this game, to begin the play, the players stand on opposite sides in a position sufficiently close to the apparatus to hit the ball by striking upwardly with the club C through the space 18. The ball is dropped by one of the players into the center of the playing field 10 and each player tries either to force the ball into one of his three zones or to shoot the same into the goal basket at his left. After every basket or score is made, the ball is alternately dropped by each player at the center of the field.

The play is limited to five minute halves,-

the players changing positions between the halves. Each time the player makes a basket, he adds one to his score., Hitting the ball out of bounds, that is, over the top of the period.

The above described game is suitable for two players. As an alternative, another game a suitable for play byany number-0f players will be played as follows ;the ball is dropped in the center of the field 10. The first player strikes the ball upwardly from below the playing field as indicated in Fig. 1, and continues striking the ball until he succeeds-in causing it to fall in the basket at his left. The number of strokes whichhe requires. including the successful stroke is his score for his inning. The other players in turn do likewise Inthis game, a ball is not to be positioned by the players han'd during the game, but must always be struck from thelocation where it drops from the field 10. If a player'by his hands or. otherwise attempts to locate the ball in a moreadvantageous position, he is penalized byhaving one point added to hisscore for each'such oftense. This penalty is applied regardless of whether he attempts to move the ball with his hands or with the club. When a given player has used one hundred strokes, he'

drops out and the next player takes histurn. Where a player hits the ball so hard that he knocks it out of bounds or over thesides 84-34 or ends 2020, he is penalized'by adding ten points to his score. The last player wins the game.

Various other methods of play may be employed, but itis understood that the above rules and method ofscoring are merely illustrative of the character of the game which may be played on the apparatus. Whatever the character of the game, it will be noted that theball falls or may be dropped on the grid-like playing field. This field being made of spaced slats, it provides sort of a non-rolling field forthe ball. That is to say, it provides a surface on which the ball will come to rest in such a way that it cannot roll longitudinally. This of course is apparent because it would have to jump the slats to so roll. Also the weight of the ball is sufiicient to prevent it under most conditions from rolling transversely on the slats as a runner, its

weight being sufiicient to cause the ball to at a point best calculatedto execute a given shot.

The end "members 2020 as shown are" preferably solid above the field so as to provide a rebound surface for the ball so that the players may use their skill in making carom shots on the vertical surface in order to successfully shoot the basket. The gridlike side members provide an openwork enclosure which permits visibility and in some styles of game it is contemplated that the player may be permitted to insert the bat or club between the space on the side members defined by the vertical slats 42 although in most form of games, the ball will usually be struck upwardly from below the playing field.

Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. Game apparatus of the character described including a part comprising a plurality of members spaced apart to form a grid-like playing field adapted to provide a non-rolling support for a play ball at many points along the length of said field, there being open spaces between said members to permit striking such play ball upwardl from below the field, an enclosure surroun ing the field and goal ball receptacles at opposite ends of the field.

2. Game apparatus of the character described including a part comprising a plurality of members spaced apart to form a grid-like playing field adapted to provide a non-rolling support, a play ball adapted to be struck upwardly from below said field, a club having an angularly disposed extremity, said field members being spaced apart to permit the ball to be struck from below by the angular extremity of said club, and elevated goals at opposite ends of the field adapted to catch the ball.

8. Game apparatus of claim 2 wherein there are upright side and end enclosures for the field, said goals being supported by the end enclosures.

4. Game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure surrounding the field comprises an upright grid-like side member to permit visibility, and solid upright end members which provide a rebound surface for the ball, the goal receptacles being supported adjacent said end members at a higher elevation than that of said field.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM T. GREENAN. 

